Top 10 Color Separation Software Options for Screen Printing (2025)

Color separation software is essential for screen printers who need to break down full-color artwork into individual print-ready channels. Modern tools automate simulated process separations for photorealistic work, as well as spot-color, index, and CMYK separations, saving significant time and improving consistency.

In this article, we rank 10 established commercial tools used by professional screen printers, based on accuracy, performance, features, usability, and industry reputation. We also highlight how InkSplit.com - ranked at #1 - pulls together capabilities that previously required multiple products, at a fraction of the price.

We focus on paid commercial software (no open-source tools) and rely on published vendor documentation and industry write-ups current to 2025. Whether you prefer cloud-based automation or Photoshop/Corel-based workflows, this list covers the main choices.

1. InkSplit.com - Ultra-Fast, Accurate, Web-Based Leader

InkSplit is a newer web-based color separation platform that aims to combine high-end separation quality with modern cloud performance and ease of use. It runs entirely in the browser with no local installation and is designed specifically for screen printers who want fast, accurate separations without needing Photoshop or Corel.

InkSplit’s engine includes GPU acceleration for supported devices, which the developers report can deliver up to roughly 10x speedups on some jobs compared with its earlier CPU-only mode. In practice, that means complex separations often process in seconds rather than the minutes that traditional desktop workflows can take on similar hardware.

Key features

Web-based convenience

Runs in the browser on modern Mac, Windows, and many mobile devices, with no installation. Because it is cloud-backed, updates and new features roll out automatically without the user managing versions. Despite being browser-based, it is built specifically for large, print-resolution files and uses GPU acceleration and optimized processing to keep interaction responsive.

Precision Color Matching and custom ink control

InkSplit provides a feature called Precision Color Matching, which maps image colors to specific inks from a user-defined ink library.

You can define custom ink libraries that match your shop’s Pantone mixes or house colors, then let the system automatically map the artwork into that set, or override individual channels for manual fine-tuning.

This makes the separations more predictive on press, since the separation is built around the actual inks you intend to load.

Smart Underbase and highlight white handling

InkSplit includes a Smart Underbase system that takes shirt color into account and automatically adjusts white coverage. For example, it will push more underbase under bright foreground areas on dark garments and less underbase where it is not needed, to balance opacity and ink usage.

It can create both an underbase white and a separate highlight white channel, with user-adjustable strength so you can control how much pop bright details receive without over-inking.

Live Print Preview

A standout feature is Live Print Preview. This shows a composite preview of your separated inks on a chosen garment color before you output films, so you can visually verify how the job will print.

The preview updates as you tweak ink choices, underbase strength, or color count, which is very useful for catching issues like weak highlights or insufficient contrast on specific shirt colors.

Built-in RIP-style Output Controls

InkSplit now includes a built-in RIP-style output module that allows users to generate films directly without relying on external RIP software.

Features include adjustable halftone settings, choke and spread controls, customizable screen angles, and dot gain handling tuned for both DTS and traditional film workflows.

Shops that already have a preferred RIP can still export separation layers normally, but InkSplit’s integrated option offers a fast, consistent pipeline for teams that want fewer moving parts.

Color Profiles for miles

InkSplit lets you create and save multiple inks to your ink library on top of its already preloaded 1200+ colors. This allows you to build robust color profiles which you can easy load on new jobs to keep consitency in your shop's prints.

You can save entire projects with their settings, ink selections, and tweaks, then reopen them later when a client reorders or you need to make a change. This supports multi-user workflows where different staff may revisit a separation.

Powerful Pre and Post Separation Operations

InkSplit’s pre and post separation tools allow you to fine-tune artwork before processing and perfect each channel afterward. Modify ink counts, preserve detail, strengthen key tones, and export fully optimized files for film output, direct-to-screen production, or advanced RIP workflows.

Why #1?

Based on published features and user feedback, InkSplit essentially covers the core capabilities of legacy tools (simulated process, spot and index separation, underbase and highlight white, color reduction) and adds a modern layer of automation and interactivity: GPU-accelerated processing, custom ink libraries, live garment previews, integrated RIP-style output controls, Raw EPS outputs, plus many Quality of Life features that make separating quite fun.

It does not require Photoshop or Corel, avoids dongles and complex licensing, and is accessible from any modern system. For many shops, that combination of speed, accuracy, and low friction makes it an attractive central solution, which is why it earns the top position here.

2. Separation Studio NXT (Spot Process Separation Studio 4) - Industry-Standard Standalone

Separation Studio NXT (Spot Process Separation Studio 4) from Freehand Graphics / Solutions for Screen Printers has long been a benchmark for automated simulated-process separations. It is a dedicated desktop application for screen print separations and includes its own PostScript RIP for halftone film output.

The product is marketed as being used by over 100,000 screen printers worldwide, which reflects its wide adoption in the industry.

Key features

• Automatic simulated-process separations that can produce 10 to 16 or more spot-color channels from complex RGB images.

• Ability to merge near-duplicate colors to reduce screen count.

• Automatic generation of underbase and highlight white channels for dark garments.

• Built-in RIP for halftone film output, so you can go from artwork to films without a separate RIP package.

• Tools for trapping, spreads/chokes, and vector PDF export to integrate with other design tools.

Comparison to InkSplit

Separation Studio NXT is a mature, trusted desktop environment with integrated film output and deep simulated-process expertise. InkSplit targets the same class of jobs but runs in the browser, uses cloud/GPU processing, and adds web-specific features like live garment preview and ink-library based color matching.

For shops that prefer a traditional desktop plus built-in RIP, Separation Studio NXT remains a gold-standard option. For those who want a browser-first workflow and are comfortable using a separate RIP, InkSplit delivers comparable separation capability with extra flexibility in where and how you work.

3. T-Seps 4.0 (Photoshop Plug-in) - Automated Expert Separations Inside Photoshop

T-Seps 4.0 from Scott Fresener / T-Biz Network is a long-running Photoshop-based separation suite that evolved from the classic FastFilms actions of the 1990s. It runs as an extension in Photoshop and automates several separation modes: Simulated Process, Index, CMYK process, Spot Color, grayscale, and monochrome.

T-Seps is widely used by shops that already live in Photoshop and want to keep everything in that environment.

Notable features

• Multiple automated separation routines for simulated process, spot color, index, CMYK, and gray-scale jobs.

• Built-in RIP functionality, job proofing, mesh count guidance, and plastisol-oriented presets for common printing scenarios.

• Support for a wide range of Photoshop versions (CS era through modern Creative Cloud).

• Extensive training materials and direct support from the developer, plus a long-standing user base.

Comparison to InkSplit

T-Seps is a strong choice if your art department is heavily Photoshop-centric and you want fine control over channels and layers. InkSplit offers a similar range of separation modes but removes the requirement for Photoshop entirely, and instead provides a dedicated, streamlined interface focused just on separations and print preview.

Both can produce high-quality separations suitable for press. InkSplit mainly differentiates itself via cloud delivery, GPU-accelerated speed, ink-library matching, and live garment previews, which are not core parts of a traditional Photoshop plug-in workflow.

4. UltraSeps v3 (Photoshop-Based Suite) - Comprehensive Toolkit for Power Users

UltraSeps v3 is an extensive Photoshop-based separation suite created by Steve Roginski. It is marketed as a fully featured T-shirt color separation environment, with eight different separation types (including several simulated process variants, spot color, index, grayscale, duotone, and CMYK) plus a large collection of automation scripts and plug-ins.

Key strengths

• Multiple simulated-process modules, including a third option introduced in v3 that uses an alternative RGB-based strategy for bright colors.

• Automated underbase and highlight white generation, along with other supporting channels.

• Utility functions such as JPEG Repair, fleshtone enhancement, and various image cleanup routines to make low-quality art more printable.

• No dongles or unlock codes in v3, and licensing designed to allow installation on multiple systems in the same shop.

UltraSeps is positioned and widely promoted as a high-end, feature-rich solution that many shops buy once and keep for many years.

Comparison to InkSplit

UltraSeps is arguably the most extensive Photoshop-centric toolkit in this space. It gives power users many knobs and multiple algorithms for the same job. InkSplit, by design, aims to encapsulate those decisions in one intelligent engine, with fewer manual branches for novice users to navigate.

In practical terms, a complex full-color job that UltraSeps can handle can also be handled by InkSplit, but InkSplit automates more of the decision-making and adds features such as browser-based access, powerfully advanced fine tuning, live base options, post separation operations, and ink-library driven color matching. UltraSeps remains highly attractive for experienced Photoshop users who want total control. InkSplit focuses on giving similar output quality with less friction and no dependency on Adobe software.

5. Separo (Web-Based Service) - AI-Driven Cloud Separations

Separo (Separo.io) is a browser-based color separation platform that positions itself as an AI and machine-learning powered separation service. You upload artwork through the web interface, pick some high-level options, and Separo generates separations server-side and returns downloadable files.

Key features

• Automated handling of spot color and simulated-process separations using proprietary machine-learning algorithms.

• Real-time color extraction previews that show which colors are being pulled from the design, helpful for estimating color count and cost.

• Proofing tools which generate previews for client review.

• Subscription pricing with plan tiers widely reported in the roughly 49 to 149 USD per month range at the time of writing, with a free trial.

Comparison to InkSplit

Both Separo and InkSplit are modern web-based tools built to minimize setup and run in the browser. Both can generate underbase and highlight whites and can produce print-ready separations for common garment scenarios.

The main difference in emphasis is control. Separo is oriented toward a “click once and get a result” workflow with AI deciding most details. InkSplit offers a similar level of automation but exposes more control for shops that want it: explicit ink selection via custom libraries, tunable underbase and highlight strength, and an interactive garment preview. From a cost perspective, Separo’s subscription tiers are geared toward shops with consistent monthly volume, while InkSplit’s pricing structure can be more flexible for small or medium users.

6. QuikSeps Professional (Photoshop Actions) - Budget-Friendly Versatility

QuikSeps Professional is an older but still relevant Photoshop-based separation package, implemented largely as action sets. It is owned by the same developer behind UltraSeps and is frequently described as UltraSeps’ “foundation” or entry-level product.

What it offers

• Automated routines for simulated process, spot color, index, grayscale, and basic process separations.

• Support for both Windows and macOS Photoshop installations.

• Helper actions such as color reduction, simple image enhancement, and halftone preview, all built into familiar Photoshop workflows.

QuikSeps’ main appeal is that it covers the essential separation types at a relatively low one-time price, making it accessible for small or new shops that are already using Photoshop.

Comparison to InkSplit

QuikSeps is a good “starter” separation automation layer for a Photoshop user. InkSplit covers the same core job types (simulated, spot, reduced color) but operates as a dedicated, faster engine in the browser, with more modern features and no need to manage Photoshop actions or compatibility across versions.

For current Photoshop users, QuikSeps can still be attractive as a low-cost tool. For shops willing to work in a browser and use a separate RIP, InkSplit effectively replaces the need for QuikSeps and adds capabilities like ink libraries, Smart Underbase, and live preview.

7. Xerio Sep (Standalone Desktop) - High-End Precision for Polychromy

Xerio Sep from Grafco AST is a specialized separation tool aimed at high-end polychromy screen printing. It is a standalone desktop application that focuses heavily on precise control over multi-color separations and integration with extended gamut workflows.

Key features

• Automatic separation routines suitable for complex, multi-color images where precise control is needed.

• Support for white backprints, white and black color separation, and four-process color print setups.

• Tools oriented toward integrating screen printing separations with digital workflows, such as for hybrid print lines or digital support printing.

Xerio Sep is not as widely used globally as some of the other tools here and tends to be found in shops that are heavily invested in polychromy and specialty printing.

Comparison to InkSplit

Xerio Sep is positioned for deep control and integration in certain European and high-end markets. InkSplit, by contrast, aims to bring comparable separation quality to a much broader user base, via a cloud interface that does not require specialized local setup.

For typical T-shirt and apparel shops that just need reliable simulated process, spot, and underbase handling, InkSplit provides a simpler, more accessible alternative. For highly specialized workflows that depend on Xerio’s particular control and integration, Xerio Sep remains a strong niche option.

8. EZ-Screen (Standalone) - Spot-Color Specialist

EZ-Screen from Digital Desk Solutions is a long-standing Windows-only spot-color separation application that became popular for its ability to minimize color count without sacrificing quality. It may not see as much active marketing today, but its core feature set is still noteworthy.

Highlights

• Strong at reducing an image to a minimal set of spot inks, often as few as 3 or 4, while maintaining the look of the original art.

• “Instant preview” feature that shows a simulated print on different shirt colors, allowing visual checks before film output.

• Full trapping system, halftoning, and film-output features designed to take a job from artwork to films within one program.

• Historically sold at a mid-to-high one-time price point for a specialized production environment.

Comparison to InkSplit

EZ-Screen shines on spot-color optimization. InkSplit can also reduce artwork to a defined number of colors and uses modern color-extraction and matching to do so, while additionally supporting full simulated process and complex photographic work.

EZ-Screen is notable from a historical and production standpoint, especially where shops want separation and film output tightly coupled on Windows. InkSplit replicates much of the color-reduction value but adds broader use cases and the advantages of a web-delivered tool.

9. SimpleSeps (CorelDRAW Plug-in Suite) - Integrated Corel Workflow

SimpleSeps, from AdvancedTshirts, is a suite of modules that integrate into CorelDRAW and Corel Photo-PAINT to provide automated color separation features for Corel-centric shops.

Key features

• Automatic simulated-process style separations directly within CorelDRAW and Photo-PAINT, as well as spot and index separations.

• Halftone processing and preview inside Corel, with control over line frequency, angles, and dot shape.

• Automated white base generation and basic trapping tools, plus color reduction and simple RIP-style color-management utilities.

• Licensing that allows installation on more than one computer, catering to small shops with multiple design stations.

Comparison to InkSplit

If a shop’s design workflow is built around CorelDRAW, SimpleSeps’ tight integration can be very convenient, since a designer never has to leave Corel to create separations and halftones.

InkSplit takes a different approach. It is external to any design application, accepting exported artwork from Corel, Illustrator, or any other program. Once artwork is uploaded, InkSplit’s cloud engine handles separations, underbase, and preview, and the results can be printed via an external RIP or brought back into Corel for further layout.

Corel-heavy shops may continue to favor SimpleSeps for its in-app feel. InkSplit gives them a platform-agnostic alternative with AI-driven separations, ink libraries, and web-based collaboration, and does not depend on Corel version compatibility.

10. YRGBK (Photoshop Plug-in) - Niche Extended Gamut Separator

YRGBK is a niche Photoshop plug-in that focuses on extended gamut printing using a fixed ink set. It is designed to take an RGB file and automatically generate multiple channels - typically a 7-color set plus supporting blacks and whites - suitable for printing with an extended ink set such as CMYK plus orange, green, and violet.

Key aspects

• Automates the generation of 7 primary color channels (an extended CMYK-style set), along with Black, Light Black or Gray, and base and highlight white channels, directly from RGB art.

• Provides controls for color density, saturation, and black/white balance so users can tune the overall look.

• Targets multi-color printing where the printer is committed to a specific 7-color or similar ink system, rather than general purpose simulated process or spot-color work.

Comparison to InkSplit

YRGBK is specialized: it is most useful when a shop is standardizing on a fixed extended-gamut ink set and wants an easy way to generate channels for that set. InkSplit can handle multi-color separations and, via custom ink libraries, can approximate extended gamut workflows by letting you define and separate into any chosen set of inks.

The main difference is that YRGBK is tightly coupled to Photoshop and a specific ink model, while InkSplit is broader and can adapt to many different ink combinations without requiring a plug-in. For most printers, InkSplit’s general multi-channel and ink-library support will be sufficient. For specific extended-gamut experiments in Photoshop, YRGBK remains a useful tool.

Conclusion

By 2025, screen printers have a mature ecosystem of color separation tools available. Established products like Separation Studio NXT, T-Seps, and UltraSeps have long delivered accurate, automated separations and integrated well into Photoshop-centric workflows. Tools such as QuikSeps, EZ-Screen, SimpleSeps, Xerio Sep, and YRGBK each serve specific niches, from budget-friendly automation and Corel integration to spot-color optimization and extended gamut printing.

InkSplit.com represents the newer generation of web-based, GPU-accelerated tools. It brings together capabilities that traditionally required multiple desktop packages: simulated-process separations, spot and index work, color count reduction, automatic underbase and highlight white, and ink-library driven color matching, all wrapped in a browser interface with live garment previews and cloud project storage.

All 10 tools covered here are capable of producing professional screen-print separations when configured correctly. The main differences lie in:

• Where they run (Photoshop plug-in, Corel plug-in, standalone desktop, or browser).

• How much control they expose versus how much they automate.

• Whether they bundle RIP and film-output features or focus strictly on separations.

• Pricing model and how that aligns with your shop’s volume and workflow.

For Photoshop power users who want granular control, suites like UltraSeps and T-Seps remain strong choices. For Corel-dominant shops, SimpleSeps still fits naturally. For shops looking for a low-friction, modern, and hardware-agnostic approach, InkSplit stands out as an all-in-one cloud solution that is designed to reduce technical overhead and let you spend more time printing and less time wrestling with separations.